Adult Program

Program Descriptions (where available)

Donald Asher

Cool Colleges and the Whole Question of College Choice

A college education is the second largest purchase most families ever make, yet 25% of all students drop out of their “first choice” college after the freshman year. Hyper-intelligent students feel isolated and misunderstood at even the “best” colleges. Get beyond the meaningless national rankings to discover what is important to these special students and their parents. Also, learn about the most intellectual colleges (not the ones you think), totally free colleges, experiential colleges, “green” colleges, and more. Finally, this lecture will include a time for solution sharing with other families on topics like these: How do you represent a student's talent in spite of a bimodal distribution of prior grades, how do you visit a school without succumbing to “the tour,” how to deal with The Yale Syndrome, how does a student get into the most competitive institutions, problems for undergraduates at large research institutions, how do you pay for all this, and so on.

Why do some 4.0 students get rejected, while some 2.8 students get admitted and funded to pursue advanced degrees? How do you learn about the reputation of graduate programs? How can you get free money for graduate school? What's the cost-benefit of pursuing a Ph.D. anyway? Which are most competitive: medical schools, doctoral programs in psychology, or veterinary schools? How do candidates applying to top programs stand out from the crowd? Learn from a national expert on graduate admissions. From selecting programs to writing an essay to appealing a wait-list decision, you won't want to miss this.

Donald Asher is a business writer specializing in careers and higher education. He is one of the nation's foremost authorities on the graduate admissions process, and his recent book on undergraduate programs of distinction has attracted favorable reviews from coast to coast. He is the author of nine books, including Cool Colleges for the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different, covering everything from the Ivy League to the most unusual colleges in the country, Graduate Admissions Essays, the best-selling guide to the graduate admissions process, and From College to Career. He has been a special guest speaker at home school conferences, as well as at the Indiana Statewide Conference on Undergraduate Research, the Wisconsin Statewide Conference on Undergraduate Research, the National Teleconference on Internships and Experiential Learning, the National Teleconference on Graduate Admissions, the National Teleconference on Job Success for Liberal Arts Grads, and at national conventions of the National Association of Colleges and Employers and the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals, as well as at colleges and universities nationwide. He advises families on college choice from his office in San Francisco.

Anna Caveney

Underachievement: Understanding Motivational Paralysis

"Have you done your homework?" Parents and teachers resent being forced to act the role of enforcer almost as much as children hate requiring it, especially when the child seems unable to pursue even enjoyable activities. This malaise mystifies adults who worked to create opportunities for a child who seems perversely determined to be miserable. Traditional advice such as "be firm with them" or "it's just a phase" are not helpful. Analysis will compare a healthy motivational system and common forms of motivational paralysis. Discussion will focus on supporting development of long-term healthy motivation and disarming self-sabotaging habits.

Anna Caveney was the Director of the Junction program at MIT, through the Educational Studies Program. Junction served motivated high school students, providing both academic and communication skill development during the summers. Anna has also served on the board of the HollingworthCenter for Highly Gifted Children. In addition, she is a former student of both the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) and the MassachusettsAcademy for gifted students, formerly in Boston. Currently, she is developing an organization to change the world.

Kit Finn

I March to a Different Accordion: Thinking about Individuality

Profoundly gifted children are one of the most diverse groups around. They are as different from each other as they are from the norm. Difference is a huge issue for both the parent and the child of the profoundly gifted child. Learning to live in the world and get along while accepting and enjoying the differences is a constant challenge.

Kit Finn is the Executive Director of Tagfam.org. Her primary focus is on parent networking. She is also interested in other ways to use the net to support the growth of the child with an atypical developmental path. She is the mother of five profoundly gifted children, and one grandchild. She is a student of Dr. Joyce Van Tassel-Baska.

Carolyn K.

Testing and Assessment of Gifted Children

We have a love / hate relationship with tests, and for good reason: we often don't understand what they're telling us! Intelligence, ability, and achievement tests, in group and individual flavors, plus group tests, given individually? Ability tests in norm- and criterion-referenced styles. Scores reported as standard, grade-equivalent, age-equivalent, percentile, percent (and you thought those two were the same?), and raw. And what about ceilings? Test styles? Test age? The Flynn effect? Get the "answer key" to testing...

The Essence, Psychology, Art, Necessity, and Inconvenience of Camouflage: A Survivor's Guide

Wherein we will discuss the value and consequences, real and perceived, of "fitting in"; methods and crafts by which to manage "fitting in"; and the identification of and appropriate, effective response to those circumstances in which "fitting in" is either an impossibility or a betrayal.

Cathy Marciniak, who has an opinion on everything, is the author of A Civilian's Guide to Life on Barthgenol, and the mother of two xg children. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, where she usually fits in.

Kim Marciniak

Becoming a High School Dropout

Why I decided to take a stand against high stakes standardized testing, and my experiences with the Texas Public Education system and the media.

Kim Marciniak is a sophomore at the Northeast School of the Arts in San Antonio Texas, majoring in visual arts. She has testified before the Texas state legislature and has written essays and articles for national publications on assessment reform in education.

Betty Meckstroth

As a person’s abilities increase beyond the normal, so does their probability of experiencing dissonance in society. Personality type is another aspect of how we relate to people, facts, situations, and perceptions. By analyzing the data resulting from administering the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children (the children’s version of the Myers-Briggs) to over 350 gifted children, we gain valuable insights into their motivations, social preferences, and learning styles. We will examine personality characteristics relative to IQ scores, sex and other factors, and how they differ from their norm. We will discuss ways to encourage our children at school and home.

Elizabeth Meckstroth, M. Ed., M.S.W., coordinated development of SENG. She authored Guiding the Gifted Child and Teaching Young Gifted Children in the Regular Classroom. She's also written numerous book chapters and articles, including the “Parenting” column for Understanding Our Gifted for three years. Since 1980, her professional practice has focused on assessment, facilitating gifted parent groups, counseling, and consultation to and support for gifted children and their families.

Josh Shaine

Inside-out: The Heart and Mind of the Underachiever

"Why won't you do your homework?!" "But it's so easy, if you would just try!" "You used to love school. What happened?" Underachieving children are among the most frustrating problems a parent or teacher can have. It gets worse when you know that the child is full of untapped potential or that the child formerly did well, but now does not.

In this session, we will explore some of the causes, some potential remedies, and some proactive strategies for possibly avoiding these issues altogether. We will also explore depression - as both cause and consequence.

Josh Shaine, former director of the MIT High School Studies Program and former headmaster of Massachusetts Academy for Gifted students, is the president of Gifted Conference Planners, the sponsor of the Beyond IQ Conferences. His current research includes examination of Learning Styles, Underachievement, and Depression among highly and profoundly gifted children.

Wenda Sheard

Game Theory for Fun (for ages 9 to Adult)

Why is game theory, the science of interactive decision-making, a natural partner for hg/pg minds? How can game theory help us win in sports, politics, school, business, love, and war? Come experience game theory in an interactive format. If you attended last year...come again this year and learn some new games. Ages: 9-Adult

Brain Research: Cognition, Emotion, Free Will, and ADHD

This presentation will begin by reviewing research finding correlations between high levels of intelligence and certain aspects of brain anatomy, physiology, and function. The presentation will then review amazing brain research reported over the past few years concerning cognition, emotion, free will, and ADHD.

Wenda Sheard is an attorney, Ph.D. candidate (A.B.D.), and mother of three hg/pg children. She has presented at gifted conferences, won awards for her gifted advocacy work, and published articles in the fields of gifted education and political science.

A theory about emotions will be presented to help us understand the deeper roots of our uncomfortable emotions and why we take things personally. We will look at the important use of empathy to help regulate our own emotional reactions and to communicate and problem-solve more effectively. We'll also discuss strategies for changing negative beliefs and implementing these insights into parenting.

Kara Sheehan, M.A., LADC, MFT Intern, is a counselor in a private practiced setting in Reno, NV. She has worked with PG families and is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the Fielding Graduate Institute with a focus on highly gifted children and adults.

Val Vandemeer

Sacred Intelligence: the role of awareness in gifted populations

We tend to think of intelligence as residing in the grey matter of the brain. But the entire human system has many layers of intelligent processing and deep wisdom. Our ability to perceive sensory information is a vital factor in this process and particularly influences how we experience ourselves as connected to other living things. Many gifted children evidence a high degree of awareness and connection to this sacred intelligence. Some have an innate sense of connection to humanity, heightened sensitivities, or a deeply personal relationship to spirituality. In the absence of context and understanding, these attributes can contribute greatly to feelings of isolation and difference -- sometimes more so than intellectual ability. It’s critical that family members can appreciate and affirm their children’s sacred intelligence.

In this experiential workshop, we will move beyond the limitations of brain intelligence and experience the unlimited sacred intelligence of deep wisdom. This will be a uniquely practical exploration of intuition, inspiration, and whole body perception. Participants will expand personal awareness, gain tools to support and relate to their children’s sacred intelligence, and be invited into a deeper appreciation of the awesome potential of the human system.

Valerie Thea Vandermeer is a gifted spiritual educator with more than 4,000 hours of professional training in healing, body language, and human nature. She has developed and presents a variety of workshops on healing and the body’s wisdom, shamanism, meditation, enlightened corporate leadership, and the power of nature. She is the Founding Director of EarthWalk which provides workshops and resources to support highly aware children and their families. Valerie has been published numerous times including as a contributing author to James Twyman’s new book "Raising a Psychic Child" (Findhorn Press) and in the upcoming "Children of the New Consciousness" (A.R.E. Press). Valerie is mom to a highly aware and remarkable five year old daughter. She invites us all to become more fully engaged in the joy, challenge, and magic of Being with our children. You can learn more at www.earth-walk.net .

Maddi Wallach

Different Minds In These Times

This workshop will focus on children and adults motivated primarily by ethics, meaning, connection, creativity, and/or invention.

In my opinion, we live in a society where many of our institutions' perspectives are too narrow and out of balance, focusing too much on mastery and organization and too little on the perspectives mentioned above. Therefore, people motivated by these perspectives can have many struggles related to their lack of fit in our culture. In addition, many of them will probably be affected by the war and related issues at this time.

In this workshop, we will discuss characteristic, needs, struggles, and ways to support people with these motivations and perspectives. I believe that now, more than ever, we need to understand, validate, and enfranchise these people so their voices of balance can be heard.

Maddi Wallach is an Expressive Arts Therapist, Director of the Connection Institute, and parent of one profoundly gifted and one highly gifted child.

Children's Program

The Children's Programming at Beyond IQ - Boston features some great workshops for older and younger HG/PG kids. These sessions are designed for two general age groups: 6 – 9 years and 9 – 12 years of age. (For those 13 and over, see the Young Adult Workshops) Children over 4-1/2 and under 6 years of age will be allowed to attend the 6 - 9 yr old sessions provided they are accompanied by a parent and/or other responsible adult.

There will also be a games room with plenty of games to challenge everyone! Bring your swim suit; the pool is open to all attendees until 10pm on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.

Then join us in a workshop on Organization and Time Management Skills. We will be investigating why we are the way we are and reviewing ways of coping with time and organization.

Julie Billett, MSN, RNC, NP, is a Nurse Practitioner in psychiatric and urgent care settings. She also serves as an Educational Consultant and Special Needs advocate. Julie has made presentations at conferences and in-service meetings on topics related to twice-exceptional children. She is also an MS/PhD candidate in psychology.

Paul Lewis

EQUATIONS - The Game of Creative Mathematics

If you like math or strategy games, you'll like this game. Any level of math ability is OK; you don't have to be a math genius to enjoy playing. EQUATIONS challenges you to think differently about numbers. Problem-solving, strategy, and bluffing are all part of the fun.

Paul Lewis has been playing EQUATIONS for 3 years, has been a member of 2 EQUATIONS national championship teams, and wants to share the fun with BIQers.

Mechanical Contraptions a la Rube Goldberg

Create, design and build your own mechanical contraption based on the ideas of Rube Goldberg. Look at drawings of Goldberg's own inventions of elaborate, functional but mostly useless machines. Use the six simple machines in complex ways to transfer energy while building your own machine. Come prepared to staple, tape, move, stretch and reshape building materials into a creation of your own making with a final display for parents and guests.

This session will be presented twice, one time for each age group.

Dan Tichenor is a teacher of students with learning differences in Lake County, IL. For the past eight summers he has shared his knowledge of "hands-on" science with gifted learners in the Chicagoarea. He is also the parent of gifted children who learn best through doing.

Poetry (Ages 6-9)

Come and hear Richard Thieret recite famous poetry, some of which he remembers from childhood. Recite aloud or sing poems with Richard from the Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book (1955) and other classics, as well as from more recent poets. We’ll try writing some fun poetry as a group, too.

Richard Thieret, B.S., M.Ed., is a chemistry teacher and father of three hg/pg children. He’s taught high school science in Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. When living in the Dallas area, he welcomed a Dallas area group of pg children into his laboratory and home. During one session, he sparked some children into a passion for organic chemistry. You can read about Richard and his Ohio teaching in A Time To Learn: The Story of One High School’s Remarkable Transformation and the People Who Made it Happen (1998) by Dr. George Wood, but you’ll have to guess which pseudonymed teacher in the book is Richard.